That would be cool. I hope you get it by the end of the week!

 

I've been running StangMods' 10000K Bi-Xenon kit for almost three years now in my Mustang and I love them. StangMod's lifetime warranty and excellent customer service has me sold if I ever decide to purchase another set in the future for another car.

My brother ran TopHIDKits' 10000K headlights and foglights in his 2008 Super Duty. He just got a 2011 Super Duty and is running TopHIDKits' 10000K headlights with slim ballasts and 6000K foglights.

www.tophidkits.com

 

Nice but their web site doesn't work. . .

 

Anything over 5000k ...

 

H13 35w Digital Kit: http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/ser...VERSION/Detail

Bulb capping: http://www.retrosolutionsllc.com/ser...OAT-CAP/Detail

Coupon code MUSTANG at check out for a discount. It gives $20 off the HID kit I believe.

 

Thanks, Adam! That works.

 

I will go with stangmod over americamuscle kit because I don't like anything higher than 5000K. Well, the price also is a thing to consider.

 

I'd say avoid anything over 6000K. The light output drops so dramatically after that you're going to have worse output than with your halogens.

 

So bulb capping will keep HIDs from blinding other drivers if we don't have projectors? If so, I think I'll get those.

 

My concern right now is VA inspections. With 4300k I think I'm less likely to be "caught" but any lighting mods are normally a no-no here.

 

Stock HID bulbs come in between 4000-5000k, depending on manufacturer. MB and BMW usually come in on the high side, and Ford, Mazda, GM, Chrysler, etc. come in closer to 4300K. Going with a 55w kit to retrofit a halogen bulb will also wash out a lot of the blue tint if you go with a higher temp bulb.

Just to clear this up, going with a higher K rated bulb will hurt your light output (lumens). The higher the color temp, the more blue/violet the light is, which effectively reduces the amount of light you put out.

Check out this link and it explains the light output and what to expect for a set of DDM bulbs (most kits will be close to this as well):

http://www.therpmstore.com/product_i...products_id=38

 

And that's why I plan to stay around 4300k. My goal is light output, not a light show for the public.

 

I have a 55w 5000k kit, which essentially looks like the color of the 35w 4300k kit. I think you'll be okay. If you're worried, you can always pop out your HID bulbs and swap the halogens in for inspection. Leave all the wiring and everything else in place. Just swap the bulbs and plug the halogen bulbs in to the stock harnesses.

 

I figured as much CD, but I figured I'd go ahead and throw out the info post for everyone regarding HIDs now, before some clown comes in and wants to throw a set of 14000K bulbs on his car to look "dope".

I've had a lot of time researching and dealing with HIDs on the Mazda forums, so I'm more than happy to share what I've learned over here.

 

Much appreciated, Steve!

 

That's the idea. It helps reduce glare. However, due to the OEM reflective housings some light is still thrown above the "cut off". This isn't really a surprise though.

 

This all sounds like great idea's in theory but I guess I am too nervous about it to try. Just seems a bit too homegrown for me. I will probably just try to save up and go for the factory HID's.

 

How does halogen light reflect differently than HID light? Light is light, right? At least what's visible to us. How is the cut-off controlled with the halogen bulb?

I was reading one of the NHTSA docs about glare vs perceived glare and where the complaints were coming from. They noted that when halogens first became available drivers of the "old style" lighting were complaining about the new halogen lights. Ostensibly this was because the new lights were "different" and drivers were focusing on them thus creating a perception of glare vice any real glare that couldn't be avoided just as with any other light.

 

Again, I have been running aftermarket HIDs. in my car for 5 years. If you don't like the look of the projector headlights on the OEM HIDs, aftermarket is the way to go.

 

The HID bulbs light up differently than halogen bulbs. Halogen bulbs have a filament that is ignited and the light is thrown around in all directions, which is why they are usually in circular shaped housings. HID bulbs have a small chamber of gas that is ignited by the ballast. Their light output is much more focused, which is why they work best in projectors. That's a pretty basic description of the differences, but it may make it easier to understand. Throw a HID bulb into a stock housing designed for halogen bulbs, and you aren't using the bulbs or the housing to their best potential. Like I said earlier, every headlight is different though. Some work better with HID bulbs, some are horrible.